Gig review: They drive by night

Published on Friday 10 July 2009 19:00

THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT **** FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH

ONE is an out-of-time English rock'n'roll balladeer in preppy glasses, shirt and sleek short-back-and-sides, the other is a respected Californian slide guitarist slouching around in a hippyish shirt and beanie hat – ostensibly, Nick Lowe and Ry Cooder don't appear to have much in common. But they both have a mess of the blues, and their contrasting styles blend naturally.

They recognised this years ago and have a history of collaboration. As they reached the end of their European tour, there was a relaxed familiarity to their soothing repertoire and their wry banter at the first of two Edinburgh concerts.

Despite the B-movie title, there was no grand concept to the show. Lowe would play some of his material, and Cooder would play a little more of his, with Cooder's son Joachim backing them on drums. Sadly, accordion player Flaco Jimenez was unable to join the tour. Though his Tex-Mex textures would have embellished the sound beautifully, support act Juliette Commagere and Alex Lilly provided wonderfully ambient backing vocals, lending a subtle Hispanic touch or a southern soul croon as required.

Lowe's Half a Boy and Half a Man was slightly jarring in this mellow company (don't mention the Smurfs, who knocked Lowe off the top of the charts in Holland). Cooder unveiled Your Biggest Fool, a song about Richard Nixon in the style of Trini Lopez, he felt had similar hit potential.

The likes of Crazy 'bout an Automobile and Jesus on the Mainline had already made the grade with the audience, but the gems were reserved for the end – a lovely, tender version of Jim Reeves' He'll Have To Go and a gently Latino take on Lowe's (What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.